I have always loved taking photos and sharing them with anybody that is interested. I am interested in nature and history and like to research the subject of the shots that I come away with. My current camera is an Olympus Stylus 1s.

Sunday, 18 January 2015

Cromer Lifeboat Station

At the end of the pier in Cromer on the Norfolk Coast in the UK can be found the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) off shore lifeboat station. The current building was rebuilt between 1997 and 1999, to replace the original building which had been located here since 1923. This original building was relocated to Southwold in Suffolk where it is used as a lifeboat museum.

Cromer's volunteer crews have, over the years, been awarded many accolades for their bravery and daring rescues, spanning over two centuries. Names of the brave crew, the lifeboats they served on, the dates of their rescue attempts and the names of the vessels in distress are recorded on the plaques that are all over the interior walls of the station. These along with the beautifully decorated and colourful stained glass windows are a very fitting tribute.

Because this station is classed as an 'Explore' station, meaning visitors can get 'up close and personal with the impressive fully operational, working lifeboats. It is amazing how they manage to maneuver these large boats into quite a tight space.

These three stained glass windows record some of Cromer's most famous lifeboats.

The Ruby and Arthur Reed 1 lifeboat was in service here in Cromer from 30th April 1967 until it was replaced 17 years later. During this time she performed 125 service launches and rescued 58 people. Again she was named after the generous benefactor Mrs Reed in memory of her husband.

Henry Blogg was Cromer and probably Englands most famous and decorated lifeboat man and is referred to as 'the greatest of the lifeboatmen'. He was born on the 6th February 1876, was coxwain of the cromer lifeboat from 1909 to 1947 and died on the 13th June 1954. During his career he awarded three gold medals and four silver medals by the RNLI as well as the George Cross and the British Empire Medal as well as several other awards. Due to the Watson Class lifeboats being the boats stationed here in Cromer during Henry Blogg's career, they have become the most famous type of lifeboat.

The current lifeboat stationed here is a Tamar Class named Edward and Barbara Prigmore, (in recognition of the generous donation given to the RNLI by the late Mrs Prigmore), which came into service in 2011.

The drama of the seas recreated on canvas.

If you ever get the chance to visit Cromer, please stop by the Lifeboat Station, it is a fantastic place to visit and if your timing is right you may even get to see the lifeboat being launched out to sea.

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About Me

I am interested in Nature and History. I like taking photos of what I see and experience around me and finding out about what I have seen. As a result I also do a lot of reading mainly historical or factual.